Cowboys Renew Old Rivalry

The Cowboys Packers may not be the greatest rivalry of all time, but the history between the two teams is unmatched.

It began in the 60's when they played in back to back NFL Championship games. Green Bay won both, including the ice bowl of 1967. That was the first of a string of games that always seem meaningful.

Former Cowboys Quarterback Don Meredith remembers the ice bowl of 1967. “Green Bay had the better team in 1966, we weren't quite there, but in 1967, I really though we did. But, in my mind the best team doesn't always win.”

Of the 26-meetings, the most significant have been the 6-playoff games. In January 1983, the Cowboys and Packers played a second round divisional playoff game. It was won by Dallas before eventually losing their third straight NFC Championship game.

During the 90's there were three playoff games, all were played at Texas Stadium and all were won by the Cowboys. The biggest was in January 1996, the NFC championship game. Dallas won 38-27 reroute to winning their third super bowl in four years.

“It just seems like there is never an opportunity to relax when you play the Green Bay Packers,” Cowboys Fullback Daryl Johnston explained after advancing to the Super Bowl.

Cowboys Quarterback Troy Aikman agreed. “How sweet it is.!”

There were other memorable games. In 1994, Quarterback Jason Garrett beat the Packers on Thanksgiving Day 42-to-31 and he beat them again eight years ago, the last time the Packers played at Texas Stadium.


“It’s been a great rivalry for a long time, long before I was ever around,” says Jason Garrett, the teams Offensive Coordinator. “You think about the ice bowl and all those great games they played. It’s just been a great history between the two teams.”

The Cowboys and Packers have played twelve games in Texas stadium since it opened in 1971, and Dallas has lost only twice. In this series, home field means everything.